Company franchises Bangalore-based entrepreneur to bottle and sell its brand in India. PHOTO: murreebrewery.com
Murree Brewery CEO Isphanyar Bhandara told The Ecnomic Times that "it was not permissible to export beer to India through the Wagah-Attari border so we decided to offer our company's franchise to an entrepreneur in Bangalore to brew, bottle and market Murree beer in India.
"This will also strengthen trading ties between India and Pakistan. The product will hit the market soon."
Bhandara said Murree Brewery produces beer, single malt whisky, scotch whisky, vodka and brandy.
He said under the Pakistani law, Muslims are prohibited from consuming alcoholic drinks, whereas non-Muslims and foreigners require consumption permits.
"We sell our alcoholic products in five-star hotels only. Pakistan also prohibits export of alcoholic products. For now we are interested in finding distributors for our beer in India," Bhandara said while explaining his company's business plans.
Bhandara, who is a Parsi, said Murree beverages will be made in India in the brewery of an Indian actor under their brand (Murree) and formulation.
"Murree Brewery was established in Ghora Galli (a tourist mountain resort town in the Galiyat area of northern Pakistan) in 1860 in response to demand for beer by the British officers. It is the oldest running enterprise in Pakistan," he proudly stated.
"Indians may import onions and tomatoes from us but they are sceptical about buying beer from Pakistan since there is no dearth of fizzy drinks in India," said Bhandara.
He said they were keen on finding distributors for their brand in India, especially in Punjab.
COMMENTS (26)
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@ Pankaj....LOL
waiting eagerly....lets see how good pakistan is in Brewery products
I am looking forward to it.
Good news.I hear that Murree Brewery products are high quality products.Indian people must taste and enjoy them
It is easy to blame Pakis for being hardliners, religious bigots etc... but, just imagine how these poor boys surviving, all their women have been kept in black cover "burqa" and all their wine is in Army HQ of Rawalpindi cantonment. Now, In absence of both wine and women, what else is left to do ?
Welcome Murree bear. Eagerly waiting for it's launch in Mumbai. More competition is always good for the consumer. Kingfisher, LP, Heineken, Fosters, Carlsberg,UB, RC better watch out.
@Tariq:
I drink beer/rum regularly and was never unconscious. I think wine and beer are much older than any religion established on earth. It is like pot calling the kettle black. I am from Hindu religion and it does not prohibit alcohol. Even Indian gods drink wind called as Madhu. Religions should only suggest people what he should do- not demand him to follow its diktats.
I love beer and Murree Beer is the best. My son sohrab lives in houston and misses his favorite drink from back home. It would be nice if Bhandara sahib could export him a few cases every week for him and his friends. I would appeal for the export ban to be lifted.
1) It will lead to more dollars for our country in export earnings. 2) My son sohrab can get his favorite drink he used to consume beer five a day here when he lived here (he was religious about it) 3) The Pakistan brand would shine 4) there will be more jobs in the country as more beer is exported. and expansions happen. Murree could be the next Heinekin.
@Karachi Bhai: Probably the reason for no xenophobic comments/agression is due to the facts that the news about single malt whisky, scotch whisky, vodka and brandy, et cetera makes you 'high' and sedate, as well as less violent.
A refreshing news, something different from the normal routine clutter! I am more happy that I have not read any bad, stupid or aggressive comment on this news item. Readers are maturing, I guess!
Any thing which make human unconscious is prohibited. Obviously making, selling and people associated with such business are un-islamic and therefore prohibited. It is irony that country which claimed to have constitution based on Islamic fundamentals collect revenues from alcohol sale and export and even manufacture alcohol. Even other religion prohibits alcoholism.
I thunk there are other brands like Gourmet,shezan,etc which r should be promoted too over the world
@Only Pulse:
in the long run. The owner is a Pharsee. We can supply Paksitan's Beer requirement from India- Just like Tomatoes.
@sid,, how to to cheers in urdu or in hindi ? can any one help me out ?
@Copy Pasted: If you note it says the newsitem is reported from Amritsar. Also Economic Times is quoted. So it is not as though they have not given credit to their source. What's your issue?
@Raj - USA: It is Pakistan, which does not allow exports. “We sell our alcoholic products in five-star hotels only. Pakistan also prohibits export of alcoholic products. For now we are interested in finding distributors for our products in India,” I want to taste it too.
Good to see Pakistani products in more countries.
I sincerely hope that Murree Brewery remains a Pakistani company. I don't want to witness a day that India gives them such incentives and assurance of security (a brewery in an Islamic country is too prone to attacks by extremists) that Murree Brewery decides to pack off from Pakistan and establish their main hub in India.
Another blow to the Pakistan economy. Had it been exported from Pakistan the brewery could have expanded giving job opportunities to more Pakistanis.
Allow me to say Indians would not regret this. In my opinion one of the best brews around. Now the last time I thoroughly enjoyed a few of these cold brews was about 2 years ago and it was still good as ever. Enjoy!
About time Pakistan removes the export ban on alcoholic beverages! It would be good to have some Murree when nostalgia strikes!
Meanwhile, more variety in Pakistan would be a definite plus and I hope a few Indian brewries get franchises in Pakistan!
This brand is not available in London and I asked a mutual friend to ask Mr Bhandara why he doesn't export when clearly there is a big market. He reported replied: . 'We have so much demand in Pakistan that we cannot export it'. Glad he found a way for India. Why not in London where 85% 'Indian' restaurants are owned by Non-Indians (Bangladeshis and Pakistanis).